Question
Is my friend’s newborn’s crying and screeching at night a disease? Symptoms: My friend’s child often jumps out of bed and cries at night, flailing their arms and hands as if frightened by something. Sometimes, they can’t stop suckling on the bottle. Eating too much can cause vomiting. They are quiet during the day. This happens almost every night. Doctor, is this normal for a baby? Is there any disease? The grandmother has depression, does it affect the child?
Answer
When a newborn experiences repeated night-time crying and screeching, it’s important to consider the possible causes. Children with rickets, due to calcium deficiency in their bodies, are prone to being startled, especially at night when any slight movement can wake them up and cause them to cry. Children with tuberculosis or malnutrition and other chronic diseases often cry at night as well. If the cause is illness or malnutrition, it is recommended to see a doctor for a timely re-examination and treatment or take appropriate measures. If it’s not due to illness, parents should be aware and implement specific training to change their day-night reversal. Parents can gather activities such as giving the baby water, changing diapers, taking fish liver oil, and calcium tablets as much as possible during the day. Avoid overfeeding the child during the day; instead, encourage smaller meals more frequently so that the baby wakes up due to hunger.